The Boy Who Loved to Draw: Benjamin West [Hardcover]

Barbara Brenner (Author), Olivier Dunrea (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

When Benjamin West was seven years old, the only thing in the world he wanted to do was draw pictures. For a time, that got him into a peck of trouble. Papa wasn't pleased when Benjamin "borrowed" his best quill pen. Mama wasn't happy that Benjamin would rather sketch the cows than milk them. And Grimalkin, the family cat, was not keen on being the source for paintbrush hairs! Truth was, there was nothing Benjamin cared more about than art, and that led him to some surprising adventures. Here, in lively easy-to-read words and vivid pictures, is the engaging true story of Benjamin West, the farmboy from colonial Pennsylvania who grew up to become the first world-famous American artist and a friend to Benjamin Franklin and the king of England.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This innovative picture book/chapter book hybrid vividly brings to life the childhood of noted American painter Benjamin West (1738-1820). The youngest of 10 children in a Quaker family, Benjamin becomes inspired at the age of seven and draws pictures every chance he gets. When quill and paper aren't enough, a Native American friend shows young Benjamin how to mix clay and bear grease into paint colors, and Benjamin learns-by trial and error, using hair from his pet cat-how to make simple paintbrushes. Brenner (If You Were There in 1776) distills West's formative years into a lively narrative. She makes Benjamin easy to like, giving equal emphasis to his singular passion for art and to the qualities he has in common with readers (e.g., a knack for getting into trouble, then fearing the consequences). Dunrea's (The Painter Who Loved Chickens) gouache compositions capture the sparse simplicity of colonial-era Pennsylvania. Pared-down, favoring the grays and muted colors associated with traditional Quaker furnishings, these pictures pay their respects to the art of the period but retain warmth and a childlike puckishness; the horizontal format, approximately 10" x 7", accentuates Dunrea's painterly style. An author's note chronicling West's career and featuring reproductions of several works is included. Ages 5-8. (Sept.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 3-This simply told picture-book biography introduces the story of Benjamin West, who is often referred to as the father of American art. Born in 1738, the 10th child of the Pennsylvania Wests, he began drawing at a very young age. He learned about color from local Indians, and he learned about "hair pencils" (paintbrushes) from a traveler. Since he couldn't obtain any of his own, he made them with hairs from the family cat, Grimalkin. Realizing their son's potential, Benjamin's parents sent him to Philadelphia to study with a real artist. The trip changed his life. Dunrea's folk-style gouache paintings incorporate period architecture, furnishings, and handicrafts. The pictures are framed with thin black lines, giving the book a formal appearance. This is a fine introduction to artists and the Colonial period.
Kathleen Staerkel, Indian Trails Public Library District, Wheeling, IL
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 48 pages
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children; 1st ed edition (September 27, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0395850800
• ISBN-13: 978-0395850800
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 7.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #632,246 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gentle Encouragement for Budding Young Artists, July 24, 2000

By 

Donald Mitchell "Jesus Loves You!" (Thanks for Providing My Reviews over 109,000 Helpful Votes Globally) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Boy Who Loved to Draw: Benjamin West (Hardcover)

In Orbiting the Giant Hairball, the author tells how all children feel they are talented artists at age 6. By age 10, most are too inhibited to continue with art. That is a great loss to the children and to the world.

This heart-warming book is written in a way to encourage the natural interest of almost all children in exploring art. Young Benjamin West was always afraid that he will get in trouble with his artistic experiments, yet his parents and family were encouraging. These tales will help young people think that perhaps the adults in their lives will be encouraging as well. They will also appreciate that Benjamin West had many obstacles to overcome, like not having a pen to draw with, no paints, and no idea of what a paint brush was. That will help the young person realize that they should be more likely to succeed. West's evolution as an artist is also a good one for a young person. Start by drawing from life, gradually learn to add color, then meet other artists, and go on to get a art education.

As perfect as that is, it also turns out to be an accurate biographical statement of Benjamin West's life. Drawing on West's own recollections of these years and his biography, the book paints an artistically-focused picture of West's life as the 10th of 10 children. I especially loved how he discovered that he liked to draw, the way he got his first paints (from the local Native Americans and his Mother), and made his first paint brush (using hairs from his cat).

The book is also beautifully illustrated in a style to make the story inviting. I only wish that the book had included more and larger reproductions of West's work.

Be sure to share this book with the young people in your life around age 6. You may be able to help them avoid developing the misconception that they will not be able to become artists. These days there are many wonderful ways to use art as a vocation and as a hobby to bring great personal satisfaction. This book is a great way to facilitate that, and make the world a more beautiful and meaningful place.

Donald Mitchell

Coauthor of The Irresistible Growth Enterprise (available in September 2000) and The 2,000 Percent Solution

([e-mail])

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars BENJAMIN WEST, HUMBLE ARTIST BEGINNING..., June 25, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Boy Who Loved to Draw: Benjamin West (Hardcover)

This is a true story about Benjamin West, a native of Pennsylvania, who, during the colonial times, set forth to become a world famous artist. From his first pen and ink drawing at the age of seven, the author details events that lead to the rich and wonderful career this artist had. This book explains how a young Quaker boy from Lancaster County eventually became known around the world as the father of American art. A little extra humor with the cat...

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very pleased with this book, June 16, 2010

By 

Nikki Needham-Price "history buff" (LAFAYETTE, IN, US) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Boy Who Loved to Draw: Benjamin West (Hardcover)

I was delighted to find so many books about Benjamin West, the great American painter. While doing the regular tedious and sometimes boring genealogy work online I was amazed and nearly hysterical to find out that I am related to Benjamin West! I checked, and re-checked for 3 days before it sunk it that it was true! Then to find so much is available at Amazon so I can learn about this ancestor who lived so long ago...thank you...I can't wait to make my next purchase on Benjamin West. "The Boy Who Loved To Draw" is for my grandsons to read.